The final part of the 21st FIFA World Cup will be held in Russian cities from June 14 to July 15, and today many organizations continue to work on the promotion of the championship, including the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation.
The head of the agency, Eleanora Mitrofanova, said: "Fans' houses were open in 35 countries to hold presentations of cities where the World Cup will be held, explain all the procedures and how to get a fan ID and visa. In Peru, the presentation of the football championship was made in the parliament. We are also authorized to issue fan-IDs. Our well-known and local sportsmen are taking an active part in the preparation for the World Cup. We represented the World Cup at the International Tourism Exhibition in Berlin. Eleven countries opened Russian language courses for fans. We issued special phrasebooks for fans to held them travel in Russia more easily."
In general, according to Mitrofanova, Rossotrudnichestvo has 98 offices in 81 countries, but it is focused on the CIS countries: "We do not change our work in the Western Europe and the United States, despite the current state of bilateral relations; our offices work as they worked before. But in the CIS countries out work should be carried out everywhere. We made the certification of these countries - of Russian organizations operating there. We prepared a "road map" for the Russian language, because it's not just us who work in the field of education, but the universities also have bilateral ties, there is the Russkiy Mir foundation, there is the Humanitarian Mission fund. The synergy of these efforts will give a completely qualitative level of work with not just elites, but also with the population."
Mitrofanova also spoke about Rossotrudnichestvo's work in the run-up to the presidential election in Russia: "Targeted election efforts gave a definite result. The voter turnout in the presidential elections was twice as high as in all previous elections. The fact is that clubs of voters were established in all our fan houses with whom we really worked - they were told about the electoral system, members of different parties came there. We urged to vote. No agitation in favor of any of the candidates was possible. In addition, of course, the factor of "they beat our guys" played a significant role. "
